S.D. ghostwriter mum on Sarah Palin memoir

One San Diegan knows all the details of Sarah Palin's soon-to-be released memoir, but don't ask her about it. She can't tell.

Lynn Vincent, Palin's ghostwriter, has signed a non-disclosure agreement. She has been hard at work on the book for the past few months with Palin, the former Alaska governor and John McCain's running mate.

So quick did their writing progress that the publisher announced yesterday that the 400-page memoir's release date, originally scheduled for spring, has been moved up to Nov. 17, with an e-book version following on Dec. 26.

After resigning as governor in late July, Palin spent most of August in San Diego working with Vincent on the book, “Going Rogue: An American Life.” Rumors swirled about Palin sightings at Vincent's condo complex in north San Diego County. Palin reportedly was joined here by her family and top aide, Meghan Stapleton. This month, Palin huddled with her editors in New York.

Harper, the publisher, announced a first printing of 1.5 million copies, the same quantity as Sen. Ted Kennedy's recently released book, “True Compass.”

Just as Palin was relatively unknown when McCain tapped her as his running mate, Vincent hardly is a household name.

For the past 10 years, she has been working for Christian-based
World Magazine,
from which she took leave to work full time with Palin.

Like so many before her, Vincent settled in San Diego after a Navy career brought her here. From 1986 to 1989, she was stationed at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station as an air traffic controller and later at North Island Naval Air Station before retiring in 1991. Vincent's husband, Danny, who also was in the Navy, still works in air traffic control at North Island.

When Vincent, 47, was chosen as ghostwriter, the liberal online
Huffington Post
focused on an earlier book of hers that was critical of the Democratic Party. Vincent is clearly uncomfortable with political pigeonholing and points to her books involving Christian pop singer Michael English, former terrorist Kamal Saleem and Delta Force leader Lt. Gen. William “Jerry” Boykin.

The best-known of her collaborations, however, is about a millionaire art dealer whose life changed after he befriended a homeless drifter. “Same Kind of Different as Me” has sold more than 560,000 copies. It has spent 75 weeks on
The New York Times
best-seller list, raised millions of dollars for homeless shelters and grabbed Hollywood's attention.

Movie rights were picked up by Mark Clayman, executive producer of “The Pursuit of Happyness.” He is working with Ralph Winter (of “X-Men” fame).

The book spawned so many responses from readers, who claimed it affected their lives, that Vincent wrote a sequel, “What Difference Do It Make?,” telling their stories. It's due for release today.

Musical chairs

San Diego Gas & Electric has just added two politically savvy government relations experts to its ranks. Cameron Durckel, former director of the San Diego district office of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, moved over to the utility company beginning yesterday.

Joining him is Todd Voorhees, who resigned his vice presidential post with the Downtown San Diego Partnership, which advocates for downtown revitalization. Voorhees' primary focus will be SDG&E's planned Sunrise Powerlink transmission line.

Meanwhile, University of California regent and former Assemblywoman Charlene Zettel, who took over for Durckel as the head of the governor's San Diego office on Wednesday, has resigned from the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. She's stepping down at the governor's request to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.